At the Root Base beneath Konoha.
Inside a dimly lit office.
Shimura Danzō sat behind a broad, solid-wood desk.
He held an Intelligence Scroll that had just been delivered.
There was little written on the scroll, only a few short lines.
But the more Danzo read, the darker his expression grew.
He slammed his palm onto the desk, overturning the teacup. Tea dripped over the edge.
"What is Uchiha Fugaku trying to do?"
"Sending people to Prefecture City to approach the Daimyo?"
Danzo spat the words through gritted teeth.
The Cat-Faced Masked Ninja stood before the desk, head lowered as he reported.
"Lord Danzo, the information from the Anbu is clear."
"Uchiha Chikage left the village with Yashiro, Inabi, and Tekka at ten this morning."
"They took the main trade route."
"They said they were taking the compensation funds they received to win over the nobles in Prefecture City."
Danzo gave a cold laugh.
"Win over the nobles?"
"Could that fool Fugaku come up with an idea like this?"
"This must be that brat Uchiha Chikage's idea!"
"They want to use the Daimyo to pressure us!"
Danzo paced back and forth across the office.
His mind raced through the implications.
The Masked Man who called himself Madara Uchiha had only visited last night.
The two had reached an understanding and were preparing to join forces to wipe out the Uchiha Clan.
The key to the massacre plan was the tacit consent of the Konoha High Command.
They needed Hiruzen Sarutobi to divert the Anbu and Root to help suppress the news.
If the Daimyo Diplomatic Mission came to Konoha now...
And the shops on South Street held their celebrations and investment events...
Konoha would inevitably draw a flood of outsiders, perhaps even spies from other ninja villages.
How could they